The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of light in the in vitro development of embryos from eleven olive genotypes on MS medium. The fruits were collected, and their embryos were extracted aseptically. Two experimental conditions of incubation were used: the presence of light, in a growth room at 25±1ºC, irradiance of 36 µmol m-2 s-1 and a photoperiod of 16 hours, and the absence of light using BOD temperature of 25 ºC. The germination was evaluated (speed index and percentage ratio) at the 10th day of incubation. Additionally, at the 45th day, the shoot length, the number of leaves and the internodes of seedlings were recorded. The best speed index and germination percentage occurred in conditions of incubation in the presence of light. The genotype 'Salome', access 488, presented the greatest shoot length, and the highest number of leaves and internodes, independent of the incubation condition.
Olea europaea L.; embryo culture; olive; seeds; sexual propagation
